Following on from the other posts, I got back at 9.30 last night, the car and myself in one piece! Wow, what a weekend, am sure Pimp and AJ will agree, it's an amazing experience, just being there is an event, driving it in my own car was just fantastic. It's also a simply glorious setting, the roads and scenery around Nurburg are really stunning.

Was great to meet up with some fellow Alfa owners, but a pretty poor showing from the (so-called) Alfa 156 forum (just 1 car and not even the guy's who organised it!).

I did 3 laps in my own car, the best was definitely on the Sunday, about 6.00, in-between several closures, also just before they closed it, following a big crash just after I went out. The track was totally bone-dry all the way round, I had a really clear run and just had a bloody ball!

As well as my own laps I did a great passenger lap in Pimp's Aga, which was great fun. There were several UK Nova boys there this weekend and one of them went totally sideways (I'm told it's called 'novasteer'!) alongside us at Adenau Forst. I also did a mind-blowing lap in a stripped out, semi-slick shod E30 M3 track car, AJ went in that too, Its quite an experience!

I also blagged a lap on the Sunday morning with a guy in a UK Alfa GTV, he was absolutely ragging the thing round the track, kerbs n' all. Halfway round he pointed out that he was secretly filming the lap, via a tiny bullet camera. I then realised why there was a cunning wiring loom going round the dash and behind!

I'm just about to upload a stack load of photos from my camera, including (I hope) a couple of Sabine, from the Sunday. I'll try to sort out posting a link to them as soon as I can.

How did your car cope with the track, did it have any problems grounding out etc.The other thing apart from going off the track that worries me is holding up quick cars or was the performing well enough not to have to many major issues.

No I didn't have any grounding out problems at all, not even on the Karrussell or the 'compression' section, where it's a drop followed by an immediate climb, I think it's called the Fuchsrohre. I think even if it were lowered and more importantly, stiffened it would still be fine, there were plenty of lowered cars, including the 145 V6 going round with no problems.

To be honest I wasn't ragging mine round like some were, whilst there's plenty of power to cope with the track and on the Toyo's it grips fabulously, the stock suspension and brakes on mine aren't really set up for track use, I bet on a lowered stiffened set up, with a strut brace and uprated discs, pads and fluid it would go round quicker, with obviously less body roll.

I wasn't relying too much on the brakes, there were far too many tales of brakes giving up halfway through laps (including Chris' 156 V6 - I think AJ was out with him when he had a 'pedal straight down to the floor' moment?!). Pimp's 156 on fast road pads seemed to cope fine.

Insofar as holding up other cars are concerned, that was my worry before going, but it really wasn't a problem, the 145 has plenty of power there, even the heavy uphill sections, so it's not disgracing itself. Sure there are countless other cars that have more power and are quicker in the bends, but once you see them in your mirrors, its just a case of moving over, they're soon past you. I don't mind admitting that I did get overtaken by a screaming Nova, but then most of the Nova boys were driving like utter c*cks, with this 'on-off' throttle style. I was happy to get out of their way!

Everyone just goes at their own pace, you simply don't have to be piloting a 500bhp 911 GT3 to get something out of it. In fact, some of the quickest cars there were the local Golfs, stripped out, caged and stiffened. Most were simply flying round the bends, with no trace of body roll at all.

That E30 M3 was awesome, Paul knew the track quite well and could drive it pretty fast! Was good to see Hamish there too. Great turn out for the 156.net forum lol

The capri geehhaaa was comical - never mind how many Porsche's/BMWs/Elises/Other you are in the start up line with, everyone was looking at the Capri. Got quite a few cheers on the way round with it and a lots of people applauding when it came back, lots of people came to see it after it was parked up - complete with wipers stuck halfway across the screen after the first few turns!

ChrisH's 156 did have a s**t no brakes moment - took a few quick turns, kept up with an S2000..... no brakes for a sharp left hander (can be seen form most of mine & pimp's photos).

I was amazed how safe(!) it was - you are able to drive fast, even though you don't know what's next after the corner over a crest - straight, bend, hairpin, etc - as long as you are not wreckless you can still have fun, drive fast, and be safe.

I'd happily go along again just to watch/be passenger, you will experience nothing like it - completely different to any UK track day.

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Websites are like a**eholes, everyone has one, and im wary of any bloke trying to direct people into their's.

The world is like a ride at an amusement park. And when you choose to go on it, you think it's real because that's how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and round and round. It has thrills and chills and it's very brightly colored and it's very loud and it's fun, for a while. Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they begin to question: Is this real, or is this just a ride? And other people have remembered, and they come back to us, they say, 'Hey - don't worry, don't be afraid, ever, because this is just a ride...' And we ... kill those people.

Think I may have to go, before July next whilst I still have full european break down cover and insurance.

I would love to do it, but not full out and reckless....my worry has always been about seriously quick cars giving you grief. I need to give the a good runwith its new gearbox in and see if I can break this one within warrenty.

Easter sounds good, but the weather may well be a bit ropey then, that's the only danger. A May-September slot would possibly be better. I'm definitely up for a return trip, a mate of mine would probably be keen to come along too.

Agree with Hamish re distance, it's not too bad at all, around 290 miles from Calais, it's a dead easy run too, across a little bit of France, all the way across Belgium, past Spa and into Germany - motorways all the way to Prum, then a lovely 30 mile blat on glorious, empty German country roads into Nurburg. The Belgians and Germans drive better than us too!

In terms of cost, its a pretty cheap weekend/few days to be honest, it cost me around £100 on fuel there, around and back, £80 ferry, £80 hotel for 4 nights, plus a tenner per lap. £300 for a great trip is a bargain I reckon, even cheaper if you share the cost.

ooh May, could relocate my Birthday bash to Germany! Sounds good, as long as I get to take the 145 this time!

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Websites are like a**eholes, everyone has one, and im wary of any bloke trying to direct people into their's.

The world is like a ride at an amusement park. And when you choose to go on it, you think it's real because that's how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and round and round. It has thrills and chills and it's very brightly colored and it's very loud and it's fun, for a while. Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they begin to question: Is this real, or is this just a ride? And other people have remembered, and they come back to us, they say, 'Hey - don't worry, don't be afraid, ever, because this is just a ride...' And we ... kill those people.

Well let's face it, we needed one more 145 there to equal it, and all that happened by chance with yourself and Gari's old V6 turning up!!!!

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Websites are like a**eholes, everyone has one, and im wary of any bloke trying to direct people into their's.

The world is like a ride at an amusement park. And when you choose to go on it, you think it's real because that's how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and round and round. It has thrills and chills and it's very brightly colored and it's very loud and it's fun, for a while. Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they begin to question: Is this real, or is this just a ride? And other people have remembered, and they come back to us, they say, 'Hey - don't worry, don't be afraid, ever, because this is just a ride...' And we ... kill those people.

Hmm, good point there AJ, but at least ours wasn't an organised trip, so just think how many 145s we could get if it were!!

The V6 145 sounded just incredible, I kid you not, the noise of that thing turned the heads of even the loudest 911 or M3 owner! It sounded awesome blasting away from the barrier, I would've loved to have heard that round the track!!!